A powerful volcanic eruption in a remote part of Ethiopia has created an unexpected atmospheric event thousands of kilometers away, casting a haze over the skies of northern India. The rare event highlights the interconnected nature of our planet's geological and weather systems.
From Ethiopian Rift to Indian Skies
The origin of this extraordinary event was the Hayli Gubbi volcano, located within Ethiopia's Erta Ale volcanic range. This volcano, which had been dormant for a staggering 12,000 years, suddenly rumbled back to life on November 23, 2025.
Few could have predicted that an eruption in the Horn of Africa would have a direct impact on the Indian subcontinent. However, just one day later, on November 24, 2025, a massive plume of fine volcanic ash and gases had traveled the vast distance. The ash cloud first made its presence known by brushing past the western state of Gujarat.
The Ash Cloud's Journey Across India
From Gujarat, the volcanic plume continued its eastward journey, carried by high-altitude winds. It subsequently drifted across the northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab.
The most visible effect for millions of residents in these regions was a distinct, faint haze that dimmed the northern skies. This phenomenon served as a stark and visible reminder of the restless geological forces at work beneath the Earth's surface, even in seemingly distant continents.
The Erta Ale range is one of the most volcanically active areas in Ethiopia and sits atop the seismically volatile East African Rift. The eruption of Hayli Gubbi after such a long period of silence is a significant geological event in its own right, with its far-reaching effects demonstrating how localized events can have a global reach.
